Amarillo tennis legend LaBorde fondly remembered

Leo LaBorde touched many people in the Amarillo tennis community. Always smiling, always eager to hit some balls or give some tips to youngsters, LaBorde had a real love for the game as a player, coach and goodwill ambassador.

LaBorde, 94, died Oct. 14 in Dallas. Before moving to Dallas, he lived almost 40 years in Amarillo, where he taught and coached at Amarillo College (1969-1978); he also was the seasonal teaching pro at the Amarillo Country Club in the early 1970s.

Many of Amarillo’s adult players learned the game under LaBorde’s tutelage at the Memorial Park courts. Others received some timely advice.

Jan Munch-Soegaard, head pro/manager at the Amarillo National Tennis Center, remembers receiving a tip from LaBorde.

“I was new in town and playing in a tournament. I was having trouble with my serve; I was double faulting,” Munch-Soegaard said.

“Leo told me to just to keep my head up when I served, and that solved the problem.”

Before coming to Amarillo, LaBorde had already established himself as a top-flight player and coach. He was ranked in the top 10 tennis players in Texas from 1941 to 1955. He played matches against Bitsy Grant, Vic Seixas, Dick Savitt and Sammy Giammalva. In 1946, he lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to U.S. Open and Wimbledon finalist Tom Brown. In 1950, he had the legendary Pancho Gonzales down 5-2 and set point before losing in the River Oaks Tournament in Houston.

“He was good enough to play with anybody in his heyday,” said Benny Lawrence, a longtime standout Amarillo player.

LaBorde also rubbed shoulders with tennis greats Jack Kramer and Tut Bartzen. There’s photographic evidence of that on the wall at the ANTC.

As a coach, he guided Baytown High School to 75 district, regional and state titles between 1949 and 1955. Later he coached Southern Methodist University to a Southwest Conference tennis title in 1960. He was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame and the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame.

LaBorde played competitively well into his 80s. Although his movement was limited, he could still chip that smooth backhand service return.

“The pressure never bothered Leo,” said Lawrence, who played many matches with and against LaBorde. “He just stuck to his game and chipped away.”

Chip Parsley, former Vega High School principal and now a coach in Corpus Christi, was LaBorde’s partner in numerous doubles matches.

“He taught me everything I know about playing doubles,” Parsley said.

“He was always so complimentary and kind. I remember he’d put his racket between his legs and applaud an opponent’s shot. Then he’d say what a great shot that was.”

More than just as a player, though, LaBorde will be remembered by Amarilloans as the town’s tennis ambassador.

“He was the master,” Munch-Soegaard said, “He was just great to everybody and great for tennis in Amarillo.”

Parsley put it this way: “The tennis world sure has lost a great man. He was the epitome of Amarillo tennis.”

Drop shots: Amarillo’s Junior Team Tennis completed its fall season with the Rebels (18 and under advanced), the Smash (14 and under intermediate) and the Jets (12 and under intermediate) winning championships. The Smash and Start the Point (runner-up in the 12 intermediate) will represent Amarillo in the Texas JTT Sectionals Nov. 17-18 in New Braunfels. Other flight champions elected not to go to the sectionals.

Matt Goodman, JTT coordinator, said that 227 players (ages 5-18) competed this fall. The previous participation high in the last two years was 211 last fall. The JTT league is held in the fall and spring. ... Hastings will serve as the sponsor for the Tri-Level tournament in January at the Tascosa Tennis Center, according to Amarillo Area Tennis Assn. President Dave Martel. Olive Garden will provide lunch to players Jan. 12. Tri-Level competition consists of players from three different rankings on teams.